National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month a Great Success

Recovery for All
August 2010

NAMI was proud to be a part of the many activities and efforts that took place in July in honor of Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. Events across the country hosted by NAMI state and affiliate organizations and our partners brought diverse communities together to celebrate the importance of mental health awareness. Activities included educational presentations, resource development and donations, award ceremonies and media campaigns—all demonstrating the power of community networking and partnership.

The Multicultural Action Center wishes to thank those who worked with us to help spread the word about this special month and congratulate our partners on the impacts of their efforts. We encourage you to continue on in the spirit of National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month all year!

Highlights of 2010 activities

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), in partnership with the Ad Council, launched a national public service announcement (PSA) campaign to promote mental health recovery among diverse communities, specifically young adults. “Raising awareness that effective treatments for mental illnesses are available¬—and that people recover—can encourage those in need to seek help," said SAMHSA Administrator Pamela S. Hyde. The new PSAs were released as part of a broader public service effort to reach Hispanic/Latino, American Indian, Chinese American and African American communities during National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month.

NAMI Meridian held a free program, "Voices of Hope: Celebrating National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month," in partnership with the Weems Community Mental Health Center at New Canaan Baptist Church, a predominantly African American church in Meridian, Miss. The program began with speakers sharing personal and family perspectives on recovery from serious mental illness. A panel discussion followed, featuring a member of the clergy, a minister working with the local Spanish-speaking community, a mental health professional and the NAMI affiliate president.

-The “Taking It to the Streets: Raising Awareness and Advocacy in Minority Communities” workshop, held on July 2, furnished information on disparities among minority consumers and clinicians through an expert panel and gave examples of activities planned for Washington, D.C. through the month of July.

The two-part “Celebrating Mental Health in Diverse Communities” webinar forum was hosted by the National Network to Eliminate Disparities in Behavioral Health and planned in collaboration with the Multicultural Action Center. Access recordings of the webinar series online: Part I focused on Latino and American Indian communities and Part II focused on Asian American, African American and GLBTQI communities.

The National Asian American and Pacific Islander Mental Health Association hosted a Town Hall Meeting at the San Jose Buddhist Temple in San Jose, Calif. in collaboration with the Santa Clara County Mental Health Department, Asian Americans for Community Involvement, Richmond Area Multi-Services, Inc. and the California Reducing Disparities Project. U.S. Rep. Mike Honda and Assemblyman Mike Eng addressed the mental health issues affecting Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities in California.

NAMI Urban Los Angeles honored founding member Bebe Moore Campbell and the month named in her honor with an awards reception held at the California African American Museum. Co-sponsored by the Let’s Erase the Stigma educational foundation, the event celebrated Campbell’s dedication to raising community awareness about mental illness. The event featured speaker Dr. Marvin Southard, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, and a performance by Billy Valentine. Awardees included Kita Curry, president and CEO of Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services and Curley Bonds, medical director at Didi Hirsch. The late Anna Smith, former medical professional with Los Angeles Mental Health Services, was also honored.

Guests of the NAMI Lexington block party in early July enjoyed music, dancing, food and fun with African American and Hispanic/Latino faith communities from the Lexington, Ky., area. Members of NAMI Lexington’s Multicultural Action Committee appeared on a local educational television program and a Christian radio network to promote their efforts, and PSAs ran on local radio stations throughout the month.

The Cultural Competence Committee of the New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services and the Multicultural Committee of NAMI New York State co-hosted a teleconference discussion of Bebe Moore Campbell’s book, 72 Hour Hold.

Participants of the NAMI New
Jersey En Español seminar

NAMI New Jersey En Español, led by Martha Silva, recipient of NAMI's 2010 Multicultural Outreach Award, hosted a Spanish-language informational seminar for the Latino/Hispanic community. Produced in collaboration with the National Resource Center for Hispanic Mental Health and New Jersey Mental Health Institute, Inc., the seminar featured expert speakers on mental health and aging as well as mental, physical and emotional wellbeing.

The Virginia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Services (DBHDS) recognized National Mental Health Awareness Month by releasing a cultural and linguistic competence e-learning module for statewide agencies entitled, “What is Culture and Cultural Competence?” The training was designed as an introductory exploration of culture and a guide for implementing the federally mandated Cultural and Linguistic Appropriate Services Standards. The module was developed through the DBHDS Office of Cultural and Linguistic Competency and the Statewide Cultural and Linguistic Competence Steering Committee’s Training Subcommittee.

Gareth Fenley, president of NAMI
Augusta with Helen Blocker-Adams

NAMI Augusta held its Third Annual Minority Mental Health Awareness Breakfast at the Partridge Inn in Augusta in partnership with Helen Blocker-Adams, founder and executive director of Hope is Possible. Members of staff for U.S. Representatives John Barrow and Paul Broun were among the panel of speakers.

The Council of the District of Columbia unanimously approved the Bebe Moore Campbell District of Columbia Minority Mental Health Awareness Month Resolution of 2010. The resolution was introduced by At-Large Councilmember Michael A. Brown and co-introduced by Councilmembers Harry Thomas and David Catania. The resolution was announced at a community reception which included friends and family of Bebe Moore Campbell, District of Columbia officials and mental health advocates.